In stark contrast to the closely-run title race that was sealed by Sergio Aguero on the last day of last season, Sir Alex Ferguson's side hold a commanding 15-point lead over City with just eight games of the campaign left to play.

With Kompany reduced to just 20 league appearances after time spent sidelined through injury, he has admitted that the team simply haven't been good enough this season under manager Roberto Mancini's guidance.

"You always want to go for the titles and you always want to go for the top," Kompany told Sky Sports.

"I've experienced it in the same way as every other player. I've wanted our team to do well.

"We still have a good run in the FA Cup, but ultimately in football you have to have a winner and a loser, so I think we will learn from what happened there and we'll grow stronger again."

The Manchester derby takes place at Old Trafford shortly after the end of the international break and Kompany has targeted a return to first-team action with his club, providing he comes through Belgium's fixture list unscathed.

He added: "I feel great, I feel really good. I've put in some hard work over the eight last weeks and I'm just very happy to be back with the team.

"Yes it's frustrating but it's something you have to deal with as a professional football player.

"I've been through a lot worse than this, so for me it was just a case of working really hard and making sure that I was able to be there for the team again.

"My only ambition was to make myself available again for the manager of the national team, for the manager of Manchester City, and I've worked really hard."